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South Coast Blaze announce inaugural leadership group

South Coast Blaze announce inaugural leadership group

South Coast Blaze is excited to announce its inaugural Opens and U23s leadership group for the Origin Energy Premier League 2020 Season.

Taylah Davies and Abbey McFadden will lead the Opens team as Co-Captains. Davies, a proud Illawarra District Netball Association junior and capped Suncorp Super Netball player, has also been appointed the inaugural Club Captain and will don the coveted number #1 dress.

“I’m so honoured to be named Club Captain of the inaugural South Coast Blaze teams. I’m thrilled to come back home to the South Coast and put on the Blaze dress. I’m also incredibly proud to lead our club and help build a pathway for elite netball on the South Coast. It is so exciting to be a part of this new franchise and I can’t wait to see what we can build not just this year, but in the future,” said Davies, who is an impossibly quick and devastatingly creative centre.

“I am so fortunate to be a part of Blaze and it’s a real honour to captain alongside Taylah in Blaze’s inaugural year.  In such a short time we have built an amazing culture and I can’t wait for that to be reflected on court,” said McFadden, a strong attacking player with amazing hands and an Illawarra District Netball Association junior, who has returned to the South Coast after playing for GWS Fury in the Premier League last year.

Katelyn Begley, a dynamic mid-courter who moved to South Coast Blaze from Panthers Netball last year, will be the Opens Vice Captain.

Marji Parr, Opens Head Coach, is delighted with the Opens leadership appointments.

“Having captained Premier League and ANL teams throughout the last 3 seasons, and multiple teams throughout their netball pathways, the Opens leadership trio represent the cornerstone values of Blaze; Experience, Determination, Passion and Cohesion. Leading the 2020 Opens team will be an exciting challenge due to the wealth of talent and depth on home soil. All team members are committed to proving themselves in the season ahead,” said Parr.

Experienced Premier League player Clare McCrohon will Captain the U23s side, with Co-Vice Captains Emily Dunn, a smart and decisive shooter and mid-courter, and Jess Bowden, a hardworking and talented defender.

“South Coast Blaze is an exciting new club doing amazing things to develop young netball talent from this region. I am so fortunate to be the captain of our U23s in our inaugural year and looking forward to leading this group of talented and hardworking athletes. We are building something really special at Blaze not just for this year but for many years to come,” said McCrohon, a tough and skillful mid-courter who is an important link in the Blaze attacking engine.

Regan Tweddle, U23s Head Coach, is confident in the makeup of the U23s leadership group.

“We are a very tight knit group in the U23s and I am so pleased to have Clare, Emily and Jess to lead our talented playing group on court. Clare McCrohon is a natural leader who has a calming influence on the team and she will be ably supported by Jess and Emily. In our inaugural year we are building a strong and dynamic U23s program and our leadership group are an important part of that build,” said Tweddle.